Friday, April 29, 2011

Kareem Canty, a 6-foot-1 point guard out of Bridgton Academy (MA) has recently seen a boost in his recruiting.

Canty, just this week, has heard from Cincinnati, Providence, Texas, and West Virginia.

He currently holds scholarship offers from Iowa State, Providence, Rutgers, Texas A&M, Seton Hall and there are reports of many more.

The 6-1 guard confirmed that Cincy, Providence, Texas and West Virginia contacted him but also said, "The hardest [programs] recruiting me are Texas A&M, Providence, Xavier, Seton Hall and Dayton."

Canty is a great offensive player and a tough matchup at the point guard position. His ability to get to the rim and finish is just one of the many things college coaches like about him.

He's also a great playmaker. With the ball in his hands, Canty is going to make plays for himself, or teammates more likely than not. He's the ultimate competitor and always wants to put his team in position to win the game.

As he continues to improve his decision-making, Canty will certainly be a hot topic in 2012.

He plans to visit two schools, one in May and one in June. "I'm visiting Xavier Memorial Day weekend and Texas A&M on the first weekend of June," Canty said.

As of now, the recruitment end is not in sight. There is no timeline for the junior or favorites at this time.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Last summer, in the AAU circuit, Junior Lomomba really opened eyes with his athleticism and versatility. The Madison Memorial H.S. (WI) product stands 6-foot-5 and has shown flashes of playing the one, two and three.

In the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championships, Lomomba really showcased his ability to attack the opposition off the dribble and run in transition playing for Team Canada.

More impressively was his ability to lead Madison Memorial to a Division I State Championship, while averaging 17 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

After a year like that, Lomomba caught the eye of many high profile coaches.

"Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa, Indiana State, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nevada, New Mexico State and West Virginia," he said of his schools of interest.

Many schools are certainly new to the mix but two familiar names have stuck with Lomomba: Iowa and Baylor.

Thompson has a massive 7'2'' wingspan to make up for his height in the post. He certainly has the ability to dictate the tempo on the defensive end and the offensive side of the ball as well.

Joseph finished his season averaging 10.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and three assist per game. The 6'3'' lead guard from Canada had an impressive season at the point for Texas. He's a great leader, doesn't force the action (1.5 TO's) and has the ability to run the point at the next level.

Joseph was an All-Big 12 conference honorable mention as well as being selected on the All-Big 12 Rookie Team.

His defense is solid, his offense will be a question at the next level.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

According to a statement sent out by the University, basketball star Willie Reed has withdrawn from the University after being admitted earlier this semester.

Last spring, Reed was suspended from school and released from his scholarship after another student alleged sexual assault.

Reed thought about transferring to Kansas State but ultimately returned to SLU after being re-admitted on a conditional status but was still suspended by the athletic department.

"Willie Reed stopped attending classes a few weeks ago," the University said in a statement.

"Because Willie [Reed] failed to meet the terms of his reinstatement as a student at St. Louis University, he was administratively withdrawn from his classes on April 5, 2011 and is no longer enrolled."

The 6-foot-9 forward from Kansas City hasn't played basketball all year and his NBA draft stock took a hit. Since he's sat out so long, his only two options are insert the 2011 NBA draft or sit out another semester.

Reed averaged 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in his last action with SLU.

"This group has taken me on one of the great special journeys better than any I could possibly imagine," Calhoun said.

Junior guard Kemba Walker chipped in a team high 16 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double.

His contributions were felt on both ends of the floor as he and his Huskie backcourt held Butler's in-check for most of the game.

Walker played a major part in the success but it was ultimately, Jeremy Lamb who stole the show in the second half.

Lamb ended the game with 12 points and seven rebounds on 4-of-8 (50%) shooting from the field. All of his points came in the second half after being on the bench facing foul trouble for most of the first.

"Going into halftime, I didn't have any points," said Lamb. "My teammates just encouraged me saying, we need you."

"Right out of the half, they ran a couple plays for me. I was able to get to the foul line. All I wanted to see was the ball go in the net. After I saw it go in a couple times, I got my confidence back and was able to knock down some shots."

Sophomore Alex Oriahki chipped-in the only double-double in the game with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Oriahki and Charles Okwandu did a magnificent job on Butler's star Matt Howard holding him to 1-of-13 (.07%) from the field, which is the lowest of his career, and seven points.

As a team, UConn wasn't much different.

UConn held Butler to a National Championship low 18 percent from the field and a half-court heave wouldn't even help their cause this time around.

18 percent was the lowest, ever, in any championship game and second lowest of any tournament game.

The Bulldogs scored a championship low 41-points. The lowest since Oklahoma State scored 36 in 1949.

Butler had one player in double-figures, led by Shelvin Mack's 13 points on 4-of-15 (26%) shooting from the field.

"They're a great team, great defensive team," Mack said. "They did a great job of contesting every shot. They just weren't falling today."

The Bulldogs were completely owned on the glass; Huskies had a 51-38 advantage and saw 10 of their shots get sent back.

"I knew they were a great rebounding team. I just boxed out went back to fundamentals," Oriahki said.

"I was able to box out, get a few rebounds here and there. I think that disrupted them because they weren't able to get second shots."

Coming in, most would of thought, if Butler could keep UConn in the 50's this game is won. But, it seemed like the Huskies emphasized defense more than offense because defense is the reason UConn walks away victorious.

Lamb and Napier have proved to be great assets off of Walker in the backcourt. Napier allows Walker to come off the screens, create his own shots and be effective off the ball.

He also is very active on the defensive end. Lamb has become a great second scoring threat outside of Walker.

His ability to come off the screen and knock down the jump shot has been beneficial for UConn throughout the tournament.

Smith and Oriahki is the huge key to this UConn team. Smith and Oriahki are strong down on the low block and are sure rebounders.

Their ability to rebound, on both ends, gives UConn a huge edge in the tournament. Lets not forget, UConn is amongst the top rebounding teams in the country.

This time last year, Butler was in the finals and UConn was probably somewhere watching at home.

The Bulldogs watched a last second heave by Gordon Hayward fall short at the buzzer and Butler went home empty-handed.

In familiar territory, you have to believe Butler will have the ultimate gameplan to finally cut down the nets.

Coach Stevens said, "We've just got to be one shot better than last year." Butlers defense needs to be magnificent going up against one of the most dominant players in the game in Walker.

Butler identity on defense has always been playing great man-to-man defense. Throughout the tournament, if anyone is going to force Butler to make an adjustment, it's going to be Walker.

Butler's great on-ball defender Ronald Nored has shown in the past he can stick the opposing teams best player. However, Nored hasn't faced a player quite as gifted as Walker.

That will certainly be a matchup that decides the game. If Walker is just too much for Nored, of course, UConn will be in great position to win the game.

But, if Nored does a great job of defending Walker and can stay out of foul trouble, I like Butler.

If I'm UConn, I want to go after Howard in the post and get him in early foul trouble. When Howard gets in early foul trouble, it's hard for Butler to remain effective.

UConn's defensive is built more on athleticism. The Huskies believe they can guard anyone's five and be effective.

Being physical is key to any game but the more physical team in the post will win. You saw it against Pitt, Butler got out-rebounded, Howard wasn't efficient, Andrew Smith was taken out of his game, and Khyle Marshall was in foul trouble. Now if it Nasir Robinson doesn't make a bone-head foul, who really wins that game?

Nonetheless, these two teams are both similar and this game will be decided in the last minute. The real question is, which superstar leads their team, Mack or Walker?

This game might one of the more evenly matched game in the tournament.

There was a point where many believed that the BYU Cougars were going to make it to the Final Four with such a solid roster that featured the National Player of the Year, Jimmer Fredette.

Fredette scored 30-or-more points in 16 games this season. He also had a 52-point outing, and three 40-plus games.

Fredette has taken advantage of every opportunity placed before him.

He isn't a John Wall, but his game on the court has turned his name into a similar media outrage.

He has his on dance, his name is considered a noun, which has its on definition as well.

Outside of all the off-court things, Fredette has become a hot commodity due to his ability to drain NBA three's, and beat the opposition off the dribble.

NBA superstar Kevin Durant tweeted that Fredette is the best scorer in the world. His teammate Russell Westbrook also said, "I know just from watching him that he's going to be a great NBA player."

Fredette doesn't have a ton of post-season history, with his first Sweet 16 berth in his four year career coming this year, but he can leave the college game with his head held high.

He is among the elite players to score 1,000 points in a single season, along with shattering Danny Ainge's Mountain West Conference scoring record with 2,599 points over his career at BYU; that's an average of 18.6 points per game.

He was also present in the NCAA tournament, all four years at BYU along with ending his career with a 114-27 overall record.

Rightfully so, Fredette won the most prestigious award in College Basketball. Every player that has won Naismith National Player of the Year award, has went on to have, at the least, some success in the NBA.

Fredette owns six Mountain West Conference all-time records, along with many BYU records. Freddette was a fierce competitor, he took College Basketball by storm and everyone still wants to learn "How to Jimmer."